Russian nuclear company Rosatom to open subsidiary in Saudi Arabia

Russia's Rosatom will open an office in Saudi Arabia [representational image].

Published: 11 June 2019 - 1:40 a.m.

By: Jack Ball

Rustatom Overseas – a part of Russia’s state-held nuclear corporation Rosatom that is responsible for promoting the construction of Russian-built nuclear power plants and centres of nuclear science and technologies around the world – is opening a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Russian news agency Tass reported.

“We cooperate with the Saudi side on a wide agenda,” said Evgeny Pakermanov, president of Rusatom Overseas.

"We place special emphasis on the work with Saudi industrial enterprises and academic institutions as the Russian side sees a huge potential of their involvement in implementation of the nuclear energy program of Saudi Arabia.”

A launch date for the Riyadh office has yet to be revealed by Tass.

Saudi Arabia is backing clean energy sources, such as nuclear power, amid efforts to grow its economic revenue streams as part of its Vision 2030 mandate.

Last month, Tass reported that Rosatom company Atomstroyexport and divisions of China National Nuclear Power and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation planned to sign a contract for nuclear plants in Liaoning Province, Northeast China.

The deal followed a June 2018 framework agreement between Rosatom and its Chinese partners for the construction of the Xujapu nuclear plants.